So that semi-trailers with a corner height of four metres can be transported by rail from Northern Europe to the transhipment terminals in Northern Italy, older tunnels on the Gotthard route and the Luino line were enlarged and other adaptations made. Plans are also under way for expanding the Simplon line.
To create better connections to the European high-speed network, the Confederation has so far invested about CHF 1.1 billion in the railway infrastructure. This has shortened journey times between Switzerland and cities such as Paris, Lyon, Munich, Ulm and Stuttgart, sometimes significantly, which benefits business and tourism in Switzerland.
Under the noise abatement programme the entire Swiss rolling stock has been fitted with quiet brakes. In addition, about 276 km of noise barriers have been built and more than 70,000 sound-insulating windows have been installed. In a second stage, noisy goods wagons were banned on the Swiss network from 2020. The programme also involves increased research and innovation into railway noise reduction.
